Pumping unit



Feb. 2, 1943. 'Q A WAHLMARK '2,309,803

IUMRING UNIT Filed May 19, -1941 2 sheets-sheet 1 Patented Feb. 2, 1943 PUMPING UNIT Gunnar A. walilmark, Rockford, 111. Application May 19, 1941, Serial N0. 394,092

(Cl. 10B-42) 12 Claims.

The invention relates generally to a pumping unit and more particularly to a unitary structure composed of motor, pump and control valve parprovide a new proved pumping unit having the pump mechanism readily removable for servicing Without necessity of disturbing external conduit connections.

Another object is to provide a pumping unit composed of a motor, a pump of the gear type, and a control valve in which the`pump housing is completed by an end closure housing the control valve and supporting for removal therewith the pump and its strainer, while all external conduit connections are made to the pump'housing Where they. need not be disturbed for removal of the valve and pump for inspection or servicing.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig-1 is an end elevational view of a pumping unit embodying the features of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of a portion of the pumping unit shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view partially in diametrical section taken approximately along the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, and partially in elevation of theunit of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 4 0 of Fig. 3.

, Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view taken approxl-v mately along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view taken transversely 'of the valve mechanism approximately along the ing Within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

As shown for purposes of disclosure, the pumping unit comprises generally a motor I0, a pump device or means II, and a discharge control valve mechanism I2. The motor I0 is preferably an electric motor of generally conventional construction having a casing I3 which includes an end closure or bell I4 removably attached to the remainder of the casing I3. This bell is `formed at its center with an elongated outwardly projecting sleeve or hub l'which forms a bearing for a pump drive shafts I6 extending therethrough. Extending inwardly of the bell I4 is an annular flange I1 forming a recess I8 for housing a rotary mechanical seal I9. 'Ihe seal is .more particularly shown and claimed in my Patent No. 2,216,218, dated October 1, 1940. The seal includes a'sealing ring 20 and a exible diaphragm 2| which is secured at its outer periphery between the flange II and an annular ring 22 retained by bolts 23. I6 is spiined, while the inner end carries a sleeve 24 which is-mounted in non-rotatable and fluidtight relationship on the shaft. Theinnerend of the sleeve bears against the sealing ring 20 ,toV

complete the seal between the parts, While the outer end is formed with a flange 25 secured by .bolts 26 to the motor shaft or armature 2l.

The pump deviceII and the discharge control valve mechanism I2 are of the general type disclosed in my lPatent No. 2,232,983, dated FebruaryA 25, 1941, but improved among other respects to provide a pumping unit which is readily serviced at the place of installation. In pumping units Afor oil burners, such break downs as occur most frequently are in the control valve mechanism or primarily the pump, since that is where most of the wear occurs. 1t is highly desirable, therefore, that the con-struction of the unit be such that the pump, as Well as the valve, is removable for inspection and even replacement, and preferably Without necessity of disturbing any of the conduit connections. Necessity of disturbing the conduit connections, of course, increases the co'st of servicing and is further undesirable because it is so difficult to obtain joints sufficiently tight to p prevent leakage of fuel oil.

Herein not only the pump, but also the discharge control valve mechanism, is made readily removable without disturbance of external conduit connections. Moreover, the pump and the valve are formed as a unit readily removable not only without disturbance of the external connections, but also without disturbance of the pump shaft I6 and the rotary mechanical seal. To that end, one end wall and the side walls of the casing or housing for the pump are formed by the end of the bell I0 andan `annular flange 30 integral with the bell It. This may be termed the main casing member. The pump housing is The outer end of the shaftV completed by an end closure 3| secured to the flange 38 as by bolts 32 to form a fluid intake chamber 33. In order that conduit connections once made may be permanent and not disturbed during servicing of the pump, all of the ports are located in the iiange 36. Thus there is provided in the flange 30 and opening to the intake chamber 33, an inlet port 34 (see Figs. 1 and 2) on opposite sides of the flange. At the bottom the flange has formed therein a discharge or outlet port 35, while at the top it has formed therein a return or by-pass port 36. It is to be understood that the discharge and return ports will, by suitable passages hereinafter described, be connected to the 'pump and valve mechanisms, and that all of the ports will be suitably threaded for the reception of conduits by which the pumping unit is connected to the fuel supply tank and to the fuel burner.

The pump device proper is of the rotary element type with the pumping elements composed of an inner gear 38, an outer internally toothed gear 39 which is mounted eccentrically with respect to the gear 38, and a crescentshaped guard 48. The inner gear 38 constitutes the driving element and to that end is splined to cooperate with the splined end of the shaft I6, the gear thus being held' against rotation relative to the shaft and being shiftable axially of the shaft. To reduce the number of parts needed, but primarily to make possible easy and convenient removal of the entire pump device I for inspection or repair without disturbing the connections to the ange 30, the elements deiinin'g carried by the end closure isa strainer or screen 44 through which the fuel in the intake chamber 33 must pass before going to the pump device. Herein this strainer is shown as annular and is mounted with a tight fit over the ring 42 and the circular plate 4| in order that the same may be removable with the pump device.

The circular plate 4| is, of course, formed with an aperture through which the shaft I6 projects to engage the internal gear 38. -Preferably the shaft I6 extends throughand beyond the gear 38 to be received in a recess 45 opening through the inner face of the closure member 3| to provide an outboard bearing for the shaft I6.

Suitable ports 4and passages are provided inorder that the pump device may draw fluid from the intake chamber 33 and discharge the same under pressure to the discharge control valve mechanism I2 from where it is either disl charged through the discharge port 35 or all or a portion by-passed either by direct return to the source through the port 36 or by return to the intake chamber 33. ,An intake port 46 for the pump device I Iis, as best seen in Fig. 3, formed in the inner face of the circular plate 4| and comprises a diverging and outwardly extending groove approximately vone-thirty-second of an inch in depth. This groove opens through the periphery of the plate 4| to the interior of the strainer 44. supplementing the port 46 is a pocket 4l formed opposite the port 46 in the end closure 3| (see Fig. 4). A pump' chamber discharge port 48 is, as best seen in Fig. 4, formed in the end closure 3| with a supplementary pocket (not shown) formed opposite it in the circular plate 4|. Also formed in the end closure 3| is an auxiliary port 49 disposed opposite the crescent-shaped guard 4,0, in order further to fill the spaces between the teeth of the gears 38 and 39 and render operation of the pump more quiet. It is to be noted that the auxiliary port 49 is considerably below the return port 36.

The discharge control valve mechanism |2, as above stated, is of the general type disclosed in my above mentioned Patent No. 2,232,983, but is 4 more specifically like the valve disclosed and claimed in my ccpending application Serial No. 346,602, filed July 20, 1940. To obtain the objectives and'advantages previously mentioned, the valve mechanism is mounted to be removable as a unit with the pump. Herein, this is accomplished by housing the valve mechanism in the end closure 3|. To that end, the end closure is formed with a generally cylindrical appendage 5| of varying diameters extendingl generally diametrically of the end closure 3|. Formed in one. ,end of the appendage 5| is a longitudinally extending chamber 52 which opens through the larger end of the appendage 5| through a bore 53 slightlysmaller in diameter than the chamber 52. Closing this opening is a circular plate 54 removably secured by means of bolts 55. A gasket 56 preferably is interposed between the circular plate and the end of the appendage 5I. Extending inwardly from the plate and fitting nicely in the bore 53 is an elongated sleeve 51. Located centrally of the sleeve 5l is a slightly raised boss 58 which forms a valve seat and which has opening therethrough a port 59. This port is by a passage, generally designated 60, connected to the discharge port 35. The passage 66 is composed, as clearly seen in Fig. 3, of right angular bores 60a and 68h in the plate 54, right angular bores 60e and 60d in the end'closure 3|, and a bore 60e in the flange 30, the bores in one part, of course, registering with those of an adjacent part when the pumping unit is assembled.

Slidable within the sleeve 5'| is a piston 6| thc closed end of which serves to control discharge of fluid through the port 59. The end of the piston carries a disk 62 of non-metallic material which seats on the raised boss 58. As best seen in Figs. 3 and 6, the sleeve 51 is at a point spaced inwardly from the plate 54 formed with an annular internal groove 63 which communicates with a plurality of radial ports 64 opening to the chamber 52. Herein, as seen in Fig. 6, three such radial ports are provided. Opening through the closed end of the piston and extending inwardly a short distance are a plurality of smallpassages 65 which communicate at their inner ends with radial passages 66 opening outwardly. Herein these passages, like the ports 64, are three in number. '.[fhe spacing of the passages 66 and the groove 63 is such that they register after the piston has been shifted a desired amount, and thereaftel` permit by-passing of a portion of the fluid. The piston 6| is yieldably urged to close the port 59 by means of a compression spring 68 which is received within the piston and bears at one end against the closed end of the piston, while the other end bears against a plate 69 carried on the end of an adjusting screw 10. The screw 10 is concealed within a bore 1| closed by a cap screw '|2.

Fluid under pressure from the pump device Il Fig. '1) opening through theinner face of the plate 54 between the boss 58 and the sleeve 51. This port is connected with the discharge port 48 oi the pum-p device through a passage generally-designated 16., this passage .being composed of a diagonal bore 16a formed partly in the plate 54 and partly in the end closure 3 I, and a vertical bore 16h formed in the end closure 3| and communicating at its upper end with the port 48. A by-pass passage for the return of the by-pass fluid is formed by a compound curving portion 11 communicating at one end (see Fig. 5) with the chamber 52, a vertical portion 18, and an inclined bore portion 19 in the end closure 3| and a bore portion 80 in the flange 30 registering with the bore portion 19 and communicating with the return port 36. The vertical por'tion 18 of the by-pass passage communicates with the auxiliary port 49 and is adapted to communicate with the intake chamber 33 through an opening 8|. This opening is herein closed by a plug 82.

A gage port 85 is formed in the appendage 5| which communicates with the annular chamber of the valve mechanism through a passage 88.

'Ihe pumping unit operates in well known manner, with the pump drawing fluid from the intake chamber 33 through port 46 and discharging the fluid under pressure through the port 48 and passage 16 to the annular chamber formed between the plate 54 and the piston 8|.

This fluid acts on the piston 8| and when sufficient pressure has been built up to overcome the spring 88 it shifts the piston inwardly to uncover the port 59 whereupon uid is discharged to the discharge port 35 through the passage 60. Since the pumping unit is designed to meet the maximum demand that may be placed upon it, it frequently operates when the demand is less than the maximum. Under those circumstances, the fluid pressure shifts the piston 8| inwardly to the extent that the passages 66 overlap the groove 63 to open the by-pass passage and permit Thus, the operating parts may readily be replaced as a unit and readily returned to the factory for repair. Not only is such return of the operating parts to the factory made more convenient, but it is made more economical, for the weight of the unit thus returned is substantially less than where the entire pump with its casing and shaft had to be returned. My construction has still another advantage in that accessmay also be had to the valve mechanism Without necessity "of disconnecting an external conduit.

I` claimas my invention:

1. A pump comprising a. main casing member having a cup-shaped recess forming an intake chamber and having an open end and intake and discharge ports adapted for connection to external conduits of a uid circuit to become a substantially permanent part of the circuit, a removable closure for the open end of said main casingl member to complete the intake chamber, pumping means mounted ln the intake chamber. and a valve controlling the fluid discharged by said pumping means housed in said end closure and carried thereby to be removable therewith without disturbing the external 'conduit connections.

2. A pump of the rotary element'type comprising a main casing member having a cup-shaped recess forming an intake chamber and having an some of the fluid supplied by the pump to be l returned to the source. The quantity of fluid so by-passed will, of course, be determined by thel position of the piston 6| which is in turn controlled by the demand on the pump unit. The by-pass fluid flows from the valve chamber through the longitudinal passages 85, radial passages 88 in the piston, the ports t'in the sleeve to the chamber 52, thence through the curved portion 11, the portion 18, and the portions 19 and 81| of the by-pass passage to the return port 36. When the so-called two conduit system is employed the by-pass fluid is returned to the source through the port 38. However, when it is desired to'use the single conduit system, the port 38 is plugged and the -plug 82 is removed to complete the internal by-pass" directly chamber 33. A

It is believed readily apparent from the foregoing that I have perfected a pumping unit particuiarly adapted for use in domestic oil burner systems which is very readily serviced. The pump device, which is subject to the hgreatest wear and thus most likely to fail, is readily accessible simply by removal of the end closure without necessity of disconnecting any of the external conduits or of disturbing the pump shaft y to the intake open end and intake and discharge ports adapted for connection to external conduits of a fluid circuit to become a substantially permanent part of the circuit, a removable closure for the open end of said main casing member, means forming a pump chamber carried on the inner side oi said end closure to be removable therewith, rotary pump elements mounted in said pump chamber, a shaft for driving said pump elements, and a valve controlling the discharge of fluid from the pump and housed in said end closure for unitary removal from said main casing member with said end closure and pump chamber forming means.

3. A pump of the rotary element type comprising a main casing member forming an intake chamber and having an open end and having intake and discharge ports adapted for the connection of external conduits, a removable closure for the open end of said main casing member completing the intake chamber, means forming a pump chamber carried by said end closure to be removable therewith from within the intake chamber, rotary pump elements mountedA in said pump chamber, a shaft for driving said pump elements, and valve means'controlling the iluirl discharge from the pump and housed in said end closure to be removable as a unit with the end closure and with the pump chamber forming means without disturbing the external conduit connections.

4. A pumpof the rotary elemen type comprising a main casing member for ing an intake chamber having an open end, a fluid intake port opening to said chamber and` a fluid discharge port, said ports being adapted for the connection of external conduits, a removable closure for the open end of said main casing' member completing the intake chamber, means forming a pump chamber` carried by said end closure to be removable therewith as a unit from within the intake chamber, rotary pump elements mounted in the pump chamber, an inlet port for the pump chamber opening to the intake chamber, an outlet port for the pump chamber, valve means, controlling the'discharge of fluid from the pump, housed in and supported by said end closure, and passages in said end closure connecting the outlet port of the pump chamber with said valve means and said valve means with said discharge port.

5. A pump of the rotary element type comprising a main casing member forming an intake chamber and having an open end, a fluid intake port opening to said chamber and a fluid discharge port, a removable closure for the open end of said main casing member completing the intake chamber, means including an end plate mounted on the inner side of said end closure and forming therewith a pump chamber, rotary pump elements mounted in the pump chamber, a shaft for driving said pump elements, an inlet port for the pump chamber formed in said end plate and communicating with the intake chamber, a pump chamber outlet port formed in said. end closure, valve means for controlling the fluid discharged from. the pump housed in said end closure and supported thereby for removal as a unit therewith, a passage formed wholly within said end closure connecting `the pump chamber outlet port with said valve means, and

a' passage formedpartly in said end closure and partly in said main casing member connecting said valve means with said discharge port.

6. A pumping unit comprising a motor having a rotatable shaft, a casing for said motor, a pump device of the rotary element type adapted to be driven by said motor, a housing for said pump device including a first part, providing a fluid intake chamber and inlet and discharge ports `for connection to an external circuit, formed integrally with said motor casing, a second part in the form of a removable end closure for the first part, and valve means controlling the ud discharged by said pump device housed in and supported by said second part to be removable therewith from the first part Without' disturbing the external circuit connections to the rst part.

passages connecting said pump device with the intake and discharge ports.

9. A pumping unit comprising a motor, a casing for said motor including a removable end bell, a bearing hub projecting axially of the end bell in one direction, and an annular flange vprojecting in the opposite direction forming a recess, a pump device, a shaft for driving said pump device journaled in said hub bearing and connected to said motor for rotation thereby, a rotary mechanical seal for the shaft mounted in said recess, the end of said shaft engaging said pump device being splined to provide a driving connection for the pump device while permitting axial .movement thereof relative to the shaft, an annular ange formed integrally with said end bell providing with the end bell an intake chamber, fluid intake and discharge ports formed in said ange for the connection of external conduits thereto, an end closure removably mounted over the end of said flange to complete the intake chamber, said pump device being mounted on said end closure, and valve means governing the discharge of uid from said pump device housed in and carried by said end closure.

'7. A pumping unit comprising a motor, a casing for said motor, a pump device of the rotary element type adapted tc be driven by said motor, a housing for said pump device including an open'ended first part formed integrally with said motor casing and providing a uid intake chamber and inlet and outlet ports for connection to an external circuit, a second part in the form of a closure for the open end of said fust part completing the intake chamber, said pump device being carried by said second part on the inner face thereof for removal as a unit therewith, and valve means, controlling the discharge of fluid by the pump device, housed in said second part and carried thereby for removal as a unit therewith.

8. A pumping unit comprising a motor, a casing for said'motor, a pump device of the rotary element type adapted to be driven by said motor, a housing for said pump device including an open ended first part formed integrally with said motor casing providing a uid intake cham ber and having an intake port and a discharge port for the connection of external conduits, a second part in the form of a closure for the open end of said first part completing the intake chamber, said pump device being carried by the inner face of said second part for removal as a unit therewith, valve means controlling the discharge of fluid by the pump device housed in and carried by said second part, and internal 10. A pump of the rotary element type comprising a main casing member forming an intake chamber and having an open end and an intake port, and a discharge port adapted for the con--v nection of external conduits, a removable closure for the open end of said main casing member completing the intake chamber, means forming a pump chamber carried by said end closure to be removable therewith, rotary pump elements mounted in said pump chamber, a shaft for driving said pump elements having a splined connection therewith permitting movement of the elements axially of said shaft, valve means controlling the fluid discharged from the pump, a chamber formed in said end closure and opening outwardly of the end closure when the same is inl position on said main casing member, said valve means being housed in the chamber in said end closure, and a plate removably secured to said end closure over the opening to said chamber therein providing ready access to said valve means while said closure is in position on said main casing member.

11. A pump comprising a main casing member having an intake port and a discharge port adapted for connection to external conduits of -a fluid circuit to become a substantially permanent part of the circuit, a removable casing member forming with said main casing memberA a. housing, pumping means mounted on the inner face of said removable member to be disposed within the housing when vsaid removable member is in position and to be removable as a unit with said removable member, valve means controlling the fluid discharged by said pumping means and housed in and carried by said removable member also to be removable as a unit with said removable member, and internal passages connecting said pumping means and said valve v means with the intake and discharge ports.

12. A pump comprising a main casing member forming an intake chamber and having an open end and intake and discharge ports adapted for Iconnection to external conduits of a fluid circuit controlling the uid. discharged by said pumping means, a chamber formed in said closure andropenir'ig outwardly 'of the closure when the same is in position on said main casing member,

and carrying said valve casing providing for ready removal of the valve means from the cloy sure as well as removal of the valve means with the closure without disturbing the external consaid valve being housed in the chamber in said 5 duit connections.

closure, and a plate removably secured to said closure over the opening to the chamber therein GUNNAR A, WAHLMARK. 

